MIAMI – As FIU football continues its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons chronological timeline, we revisit the biggest victory in program history. On Nov. 23, 2019, the Panthers stunned crosstown rival Miami, 30-24, at Marlins Park, earning FIU's first-ever victory over the Hurricanes and its first win against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent.
RIVARLY RENEWED
FIU entered the 11th game of the 2019 season looking to secure its sixth victory and become bowl eligible for the third consecutive season under head coach Butch Davis. Standing in the Panthers' way was their crosstown rival, Miami, in the fourth meeting between the two programs.
FIU entered the matchup still searching for its first win over the Hurricanes after dropping the previous three meetings, including a 31-17 loss at Hard Rock Stadium in 2018.
The 2019 matchup took place at Marlins Park, which carried plenty of history for both programs. The venue sat on the former site of the Orange Bowl, the historic home of the Miami Hurricanes and the site of FIU's lone season playing its home games there in 2007. Adding to the storyline, Davis was facing his former program. He served as Miami's head coach from 1995-2000, leading the Hurricanes to a total of four bowl wins.
On this night, however, the 305 belonged to FIU.
TOOK OVER THE 305
The Panthers came out firing on the nationally televised stage.
On Miami's opening possession, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III intercepted Hurricanes quarterback Jarren Williams and returned it 23 yards to the Miami 18-yard line. FIU capitalized on the turnover with a 29-yard field goal from Jose Borregales to take an early 3-0 lead. The Panthers' offense then put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive, capped by James Morgan's 29-yard touchdown pass to Austin Maloney, extending FIU's advantage to 10-0. Borregales added a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, sending the Panthers into the locker room with a 13-0 lead.
FIU's defense continued its dominance in the third quarter. On the first play of the second half, Sage Lewis intercepted Williams, and later in the quarter, Deonte Gates added another interception on Miami's third possession. Borregales converted the second takeaway into a 53-yard field goal, pushing FIU's lead to 16-0.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout, with the teams combining for 35 points. Morgan found Maurice Gaiter for a touchdown to extend FIU's lead to 23-3 before Miami mounted a furious comeback. The Hurricanes scored two touchdowns to cut the deficit to 23-17 with just over two minutes remaining. With Miami threatening to complete the comeback, Anthony Jones delivered the defining moment. Jones broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run, giving FIU a 30-17 lead and putting the game out of reach. Miami added a late touchdown with 31 seconds remaining, but the Panthers recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the historic victory.
Jones led FIU with 112 rushing yards and the game-sealing touchdown, while the Panthers' defense forced three interceptions.
When the final whistle sounded, FIU had accomplished something no Panther team had done before: defeat Miami.
The 30-24 victory marked FIU's first win over the Hurricanes, a bowl berth, first victory over an ACC opponent and one of the most significant wins in the history of FIU Athletics. On a night when the Panthers took over the city, FIU officially put its name on the map in the 305.
25TH SEASON CELEBRATION
The upcoming 2026 season for the Panthers officially marks FIU's 25th season of football competition, dating back to the Panthers' first-ever season in 2002. Over that time period, FIU has qualified for six bowl games, secured six Shula Bowl victories and produced countless NFL players, including Pro Bowlers T.Y Hilton and Jonnu Smith. The program has also seen many legendary coaches and outstanding players pass through the Panther facilities throughout its history, creating a litany of incredible moments experienced by Panther Nation.
Fans can be expected to be taken on a journey back to the inception of the program all the way up to the present day, recognizing the standard set by the first teams and acknowledging how many past Panthers have helped to build on that legacy. All of this will lead up and continue through the 25th official season in 2026, the second under head coach Willie Simmons, following one of the most historic seasons on record in his first year on the sidelines.
As the campaign begins with a variety of content in the coming weeks, visit our one-stop shop for the 25th Season Celebration. In conjunction with this, fans are encouraged to follow along with the many highly-engaging pieces of content recognizing the past that will be released on FIU Football's social media channels, listed below.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
